Automatic type-writer operator.



L. R. ROBERTS.

AUTOMATIC TYPE WRITER OPERATOR.

APPLICATION FILE) 1AN.23. IEHZ.

Patented May 2, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET FIG] L. R. ROBERTS.

AUTOMATIC TYPE WRIT ER OPERATOR. APPLICATION FILED JAN-Z3. 19:2.

Patented May 2, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LYMAN R. ROBERTS, OF RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPE- WBITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

AUTOMATIC TYPE-WRITER OPERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Application filed January 23, 1912. Serial No. 672,887.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LYMAN R. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Rutherford, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Type-VVriter Operators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and improved control for a typewriter operator, and is-an improvement on m application No. 597,118, filed December 13, 1910.

An object/of this invention is to increase the ease, facility and positiveness of control both infnually and automatically, whereby in the operation of repeating a letter with an automatic operator for a typewriter, the shift can be made from the writing of the body of the letter to the writing of the insert, such as the name and. address, and vice versa, with greater rapidity, nicety and certainty.

The embodiment used to illustrate this invention is of the pneumatic type in which pneumatic actuators operate certain parts necessary for the complete operation of a typewriter, such as hammers to strike the keys of a typewriter according to a predetermined sequence. The pneumatic actuators are controlled from a plurality o1 trackers or tracker boards, only one of which, however, is to be in action at a time. The trackers are provided with the usual inlet openings, one for each actuator, which are normally covered by the blank surfaces of the master sheets which are previously provided, however, with apertures arranged so as to come in register with certain of said inlet openings according to a predetermined sequence of operations which it is desired to repeat in writing a circular letter with different inserts in each new sheet, such as a new name and address, one master sheet cooperating with one tracker controls the writingof the body of the letter, and the other master sheet cooperating with the other tracker controls the inserting of the different names and addresses on each work sheet.

Each master sheet extends across the face of its associated tracker and over a carrying roller. when not connected in driving relation with the source of power, and have gearing for connecting them with the source of power in such a manner that only one will be The carrying rollers are inactive,

driven at a time, thus subjecting the act-uators to the sole control of one master sheet at a time. To accomplish this, each of the carrying rollers is provided with a gear into engagement with which may be shifted a continuously driven gear. Each continuousl driven gear is supported by a rocker, whic also supports a bearing roller, and these rockers are caused to oscillate by a shifter common to both, which enables one gear to come into mesh for driving action, while concomitantly shifting the other driving gear out of mesh. The shifter is moved by shovers or translocators, which in turn are operated by pneumatic actuators, of which there is one for causing the shifting into driving relation of each driving gear. The starting into action of each master sheet, that is, the incitation of the accordant actuator to throw in its continuously driven gear, is controlled from the other master sheet when it is desired to change from writing addresses to writing the body of the letter, and vice versa, each sheet being provided with suitable perforations for this purpose.

The action consists in letting in air to a vacuum chamber or compartment of the primary pneumatic of the control for one of the pair of pneumatic actuators, which in turn shifts valves to let in air into a vacuum cham ber of the secondary pneumatic, whereby further valves are moved to connect the motor of the actuator, shown in the form of acollapsible bellows, to suction, so that the bellows will collapse, plunging a shover or translocator against one end of the shifter to change its position and thereby swing one of the rockers to connect its continuously driven gear into driving relation with the carrying roller gear, and at the same time swinging the other rocker to disconnect the continuously driven gear for the then active master sheet.

In addition to the control of activity of one sheet from the other. there. is provided means for manually determining which sheet shall be active. This consists in manual stops or controller valves, one for each translocator actuator, which can be opened to admit air to the pneumatic control thereof, so as to connect the motor to the exhaust or suction and cause a plunging stroke of the corresponding translocator. whereby the shifter will be rocked to connect up the desired carrying roller in driven relation with the source of power by a shifting of the accordant continuously driven gear.

Whether the automatic or the manual mechanism is used, the position of the shifter in both positions of adjustment, and thus of the connected parts, is accurately determined by latches which engage opposite ends of the shifter, and which are disconnected by the machine with parts omitted to simplify the disclosure. Fig. 2 is a skeleton perspective view, showing the relation of the parts for actuating the shifter to control the actuation'of themaster sheet. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional perspective view of one of the manual controllers. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the outside of the machine, showing the indicator and the manual controllers. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section through one of the pneumatic controls of one of the pneumatic actuators.

Referring more particularly to the separate parts of this invention as embodied in the form shown in the drawings, 1 indicates a typewriter which may be of any well known structure such as the Underwood, which is adapted to have the several actuable parts thereof operated automatically any number of times according to a predetermined sequence by a pneumatic operator, indicated in general at 2. The action of the operator may be controlled from a plurality of master members or sheets 3 and l, which are supported respectively by carrying rollers 5 and 6.

The carrying rollers 5 and (3 are so located that the master sheets 3 and 4 will drape across the front of the tracker boards ortrackers 7 and 8, which are provided with inlet openings, as more fully described in my application No. 597,118, above referred to, so that apertures in the master sheets may come in register therewith to control the action of the operator according to a predetermined sequence of operations desired of the typewriter 1.

The master sheet 3 may be endless, as shown. and adapted to run repeatedly over t carrying roller 5 so as to repeat thepredetermined sequence of operations corresponding to the perforations therein any number of times. The master sheet 4 may be wound on a roller 9 driven from the motor (not shown), and may have a plurality of individual sets of perforations corresponding to different inserts, such as new names and addresses to be placed on each new sheet written by the typewriter 1.

For each of the actuable parts of the typewriter 1. as more fully described in my application above mentioned, there is provided a pneumatic actuator 10, which in this instance is shown to be operating one of the keys of the typewriter by means ofv a hammer 11 which is connected to a motor 12 of the actuator 10. The motor 12 is controlled in its action by a pneumatic control 13, which, as will be seen more clearly by reference to Fig. '6, consists of a primary pneumatic ll and a secondary pneumatic 15. The primary pneumatic 14 is connected by a main pipe 16 and branch pipes 17 and 18 to each of the trackers 7 and 8, so that the pneumatic actuator 10 and all similar actuators for operating parts of the typewriter 1 can be controlled from either one of the trackers 7 or 8. and thus from either of the master sheets 3 or 4.

The action consists in the bringing of one of the perforations in the master sheet which happens to be active in register with the corresponding opening in the tracker, so that air will be admitted to a chamber 19 at the bottom of the primary pneumatic ll. This chamber 19 is normally connected by a very small bleed hole 20 in a diaphragm- 2 1 to a vacuum chamber -2, so that it -is normally under asuction or pressure less than atmospheric pressure. The chamber 22 is connected to an exhaust fan or pump (not shown) by means of a main pipe 23 When the air is admitted beneath the diaphragm 21 into the chamber 19, it enters very much faster than the -'air can pass out through the bleed hole 20, so that the diaphragm 21 is snapped up carrying with it a valve rod 24 which is supported thereby;

The valve rod 24 moves upwardly to close an opening 25Tbetween the chamber 22 and a chamber 26 by a valve 27, whereby this latter chamber is cut off from the suction or vacuum and at the same time opens up a valve 28, so that air is admitted to the chamber 26. This air passes around through a pipe 29 to a chamber 30 beneath a diaphragm 31. This chamber may also, but not necessarily, be connected by a bleed hole 32, or, at any rate, by the pipe 29 to the vacuum chamber 22, so that it is normally under a pressure less than atmospheric.

;As soon as the air enters the chamber 30, it raises the diaphragm 31, carrying with it a valve rod 33, which is supported thereby so that achamber 34 is momentarily opened to the atmosphere by the raising of a valve 35 and immediately cut oil therefrom-by a valve 36 closing the same opening, which is indicated at 37, on a further movement of the valve rod The movement of the valve rod 33 also lifts a valve 38 so that the chamber 34 is brought into communication with the vacum chamber 22 by means of an opening 39. As soon as this occurs, the chamber 34 is connected to the vacuum chamber 22, which is always under suction of the exhaust fan, or pump.

The chamber 34 is connected by a pipe 40 to the motor 12, which is shown in the form of collapsible bellows, so that as soon as its interior is connected to the exhaust, it will collapse, actuating whatever part happens to be ,connected thereto, which in this instance is shown to be one of the hammers l1.

Inasmuch as it has been shown that the actuators which operate the parts of the typewriter can be controlled from either tracker, and thus from either master sheet, it is desirable that only one of the master sheets shall be in action at a time. These master sheets, as has been mentioned above, are supported by the carrying rollers 5 and 6, and are drawn across the face of the trackers 7 and 8 by means of these carrying rollers and auxiliary rollers 41 and 4:2.

The carrying rollers 5 and 6 are normally idle, but are provided with gears 43 and 44 which may have brought in mesh therewith corresponding, gears 45 and 46 secured to shafts 47 and 4-8, and connected to hearing rollers 49 and 50. which bear on the opposite sides of the master sheets from .the carrying rollers, so that when one pair of gears is in mesh the corresponding master sheet will be positively driven. The shafts 47 and 48 are also provided with gears 51 and which mesh with pinions 53 and 54 mounted on constantly driven shafts 55 and 56. These shafts may be driven from a motor (not shown) in any suitable manner as by driving connections to pulley wheels 57 and 53, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and connected by a belt 59.

The shafts 55 and 56, in addition to driving the pinions 53 and 54, form the pivot points of rockers 60 and 61 which support the bearing rollers and the constantly driven gears which form the driving connection between the shafts 55 and 56 and the carrying rollers 5 and 6. It will be noted that each of the rockers 60 and 61 is provided with a cut out portion 62 and an inclined or cam portion 63. .The purpose of these inclined portions is to form cam fingers which can be engaged by pins 64 and 65 on opposite sides of a pivot 66 of a shifter 67, shown in the form of a lever. It will be seen that when the shifting lever 67 is rocked to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, then it will enable the connection of the upper carrying roller 5 in driving relation with the source of power by bringing the gear 45 in mesh with the gear 43. At the same time, the pin 65 will ride on the cam finger of the rocker 61 so as to disconnect the lower carrying roller 6 from driving relation with the source of power by forcing the gear 46 out of mesh with the gear 44.

When the shifting 67 is thrown to the opposite limit of its movement, the opposite condition of affairs will be the result, that is to say, the upper carrying roller 5 will be disconnected from driving relation with the source of power, and the lower carrying roller will be connected in driving relation with the source of power. In order to lock the shifter 67 in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, there is provided a spring latch 68, which is adjustably mounted by a bolt-andslot connection 69 on a block 70 and held against pivotal movement by a pin 71 engaging the slot. 'This enables a locking bend or socket 72 of the latch to accurately engage a locking pin 73 on the shifter 67 to determine the position of the shifter 67 corresponding with an accurate meshing of the gears 45 and 43 in driving relation with each other. In a similar manner the shifter 67 can be locked in its opposite position of adjustment corresponding to the disengagement of the carrying roller 5 from the source of power, and to the connection of the carrying roller 6 with the source of power on the meshing of the gears 46 and 44, by a spring latch 74 which is similar to the latch 68 and also similarly adjusted, and which further engages a locking pin 75 on the shifter 67.

Inasmuch as one of the mastr sheets, that is the master sheet 3, controls a continuously repeated body of the letter, and the other master sheet 4 controls the individual insertions for each typewritten sheet, it is desirable that one master sheet should start the action of the other master sheet when it has finished its particular work for the time being. For this purpose. the manipulation of the shifter 67 may be controlled by providing in the master sheets perforations suitable to control the incitation to action of pneumatic actuators 76 and 77 at the proper moment. These pneumatic actuators are similar to the pneumatic actuator 10, and need not be described in detail, but consist in each instance of a motor 78, a pneumatic control 79 embodying a primary pneumatic 80 and a secondary pneumatic 81, the primary pneumatic 80 being connected, in the case of the pneumatic actuator 76, by means of pipes 82 and 83 to the tracker 8, so as to be controlled by the master sheet 4, and in thecase of the actuator 77 by the pipes 84 and 85 to the tracker 7 to be controlled by the master sheet 3. It'will be seen then when either one of the pneumatic actuators 76 or 77 is supplied with air to its primary pneumatic by the registering of an aperture in the accordant master sheet with the apposite tracker, the motor of said actuator will be collapsed to enable the change in position of the shifter 67. This is accomplished by connecting to the motor of the actuator 76 a translocator or shover 86 by means of a bell crank 87 and a link 88, and in the case of the actuator 77 by means of a translocator or shover 89 which is connected to the motor by means of a bell crank 90 and a link 91.

The translocator 86 cooperates with the pin and the translocator 89 cooperates with the pin 73 to change the position of the shifter 67 by plunging against the same, after first, however, disconnecting the corresponding one of the latches 68 and 74 by engaging with a cam flange which is indicated by the numeral 92 in the case of the latch 68 and by the numeral 93 in the case of the latch 74. Each of the translocators and 89 is made of variable length, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 2, by constructing them of two sections 9-1 and 95 adjustably connected together by means of bolts 96 and by a roughened or serrated surface 97, which insures the positive locking of the ends of the sections together.

It is desirable that, after each of the translocator's has accomplished its object of moving the shifter 67, it should be moved to such a position that it will not interfere with the return movement of the shifter. For this purpose, the translocators are each supported by a pin 98 which is engaged by a cam surface 99 on the under side of the translocator before the translocator has finished its stroke, so that the translocator will be raised to such a position that its end will leave the pin 73 or 7 5 on the shifter 67 and remain above the same out of the path of its return movement.

In addition to the controlling of the feed v of one master sheet from the other, it is desirable to selectively control which of the master sheets shall be in action by manual means. This is accomplished in. this case by manually controlling the supply of air to the primary pneumatic of each of the shifting pneumatic actuators at a point convenient to the operator. For this purpose there are provided, as will be seen by reference to Figs. 3 and 5, manual controllers 100 and 101, which are connected to the primary pneumatics on the pneumatic actuators 76 and 77 by means of pipes 103 and 102 which join with the pipes 82 and 84 respectively, so that they can admit air to the primary pneumatics, and selectively control which of the actuators shall operate. While any suitable form of manual controller may be used, the type which has been found to beof service is shown in Fig. 4. In this form there 1s provided a tube 104 which is connected to the pipe or conduit which joins the controller with the primary pneumatic and preferably projects through the casing of the pneumatic typewriter operator so as to form a convenient support for a stop 105, which also forms a valve for cutting off the supply of air to the interior of the tube 104 and the interior of the connected conduit.

In order to make the junction of the valve 105 with the tube 101 air tight, the valve 105 is shown to encircle the tube lO-l and to be provided with a. washer 106 of any suitable character, which bears on the end of the tube 101 when the valve 105 is closed. In order to hold the valve 105 closed, there is provided a spring 107 which bears at one end on a block 108 and at the other end on a collar 109 secured to a rod 110 which is also secured at its other end to the valve or stop 105. The collar 109 is cut away at one or more points between its outer surface and the inner surface of the tube 101 so as to permit the passage of air.

The aperture in the block 108 through which the rod 110 passes is further of greater diameter than the rod 110, so as to permit the passage of air through the tube 104 when the valve or stop 105 is open. The valves or stops 105 are provided with knurled portions 111 at their outer ends so that they can be readily manipulated.

In order that the operator may know at any time which of the carrying rollers 5 and 6, and thus which of the master sheets, is in action, there is connected to the shifter 67 by means of the pin 61 a rod .112 which is bent so as to extend through an opening 113 in the casing of the typewriter operator, where it is provided with an indicator or pointer .114 which will shift with the movement of the shifter 67 into register with either one of a pair of marks 115 and 116 indicating respectively that the top or bottom roller is in action. These marks are on the same side as the co'rresponding controllers 100 and 101 so that 100 corresponds to the top roller and 101 corresponds to the bottom roller.

In using the device, while the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the endless master sheet will be fed by the carrying roller 5 which is driven by the meshing gears 45 and -13 from the source of power. This master sheet 3 will pass in front of the tracker 7 so as to successively bring apertures therein in register with the inlet openings of the tracker, whereby air will be admitted to the primary pneumatics'of the actuators 10, so that the operations of the several parts of the typewriter 1 will be repeated according to a predetermined plan to write the body of a letter. When the master sheet reaches the end of the written matter, an aperture is provided therein which will also come in register with a corresponding opening in the tracker 1', so that air will be admitted to the primary pneumatic 80 of the pneumatic actuator 77, whereby the motor thereof will be collapsed. plunging the translocator 89 against the pin 73 after first having cammcd the latch 8 from engagement with said pin by engaging the cam flange 92.

The translocator 89 will force the shifter (37 from the position occupied in Figs. 1 and 2 to the opposite limit of, its stroke when the pin (35 will come into the hollow of the rocker 61. leaving the cam finger thereof, thus permitting the gear 46 to come in mesh with the gear 14, whereby the other master sheet 4 may be fed in front of its tracker H. At the same time that the rocker 61 was permitted to fall at its gear-carrying end, the pin 5! will have come into engagement with the cam finger as of the rocker 60, so as to force the gear 15 out ofmesh with the gear 43. permitting the master sheet 3 to remain stationary. The translocator 89 not only forced the shifter over, but on reaching the limit of the stroke of the shifter 67, the cam edge 99 on the -translocator en gaged the pin 98 so as to clear the front end of the translocator 89 from the pin 73, permitting it to ride over the same-so that on the opposite swing of the shifter 67, the translocator 89 will be held up out of the way. While the master sheet 4 is being fed by the tracker 8, it will bring successive apertures in register with corresponding openings in the tracker 8 so as to incite to action the several actuators 10 used for operating the various parts of the typewriter 1 to write the name and address on the letter.

The master sheet 4 is likewise provided with a perforation which admits air to the primary pneumatic of the pneumatic actuator 76, so that it will collapse its motor 78 to the position shown in Fig. 1, shooting the translocator 86 forward against the pin 75 until it permits the gear 45 to sink in mesh with the gear 43, and at the same time raise the gear 46 out of mesh with the gear 44 shifting the control of the device from the master sheet 4 to the master sheet 3. This action can also be controlled manually so that if the operator desires to shift from one master sheet to the other for any reason, as in starting the machine, he can operate one of the controllers 100 or 101.

If the operator should desire to start the device with the master sheet 4 in operation, it would be merely necessary for him to pull out the stop 105 of the controller 101, so as to let air come into the primary pneumatic of the actuator 77 through the pipes 102 and 84. This would cause the pneumatic actuator to shoot the translocator 89 against the pin 73 moving the shifter (37, so .as to permit the gear 46 to fall in mesh with the gear 14 and at the same time raise the gear 45 out of mesh with the gear 43. The driving of the other master sheet 3 can be started by manipulating the controller 100.

The latches (i8 and 74 Will catch the shifter 67 and determine the limit of its swing in each direction. These latches are first released by the translocators. before they can come in contact with the pins 73 and 75 to move the shifter 67 from one position to the other. If the operator desires to know which of the master sheets and which of the carrying rollers 5 or 6 is in operation, it is merely necessary for him to refer to the indicator 114, which moves with the shifter 67 and points out on the face of the machine the particular roller which is in action.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combinationof a plurality of master members; feeding means individual to each master member arranged so that only one can be effective at any particular instant; a controller for rendering any desired one of said feeding means active, thereby to operate the corresponding master member; a

plurality of pneumatic actuators, one for stant; a controller for rendering any desired one of said feeding means active, thereby to operate the corresponding master member; a plurality of pneumatic actuators, one for each feeding means, associated with said controller to operate the same and thereby bring a feeding means into action; and selective manual controlling means for modifying the supply of air to said pneumatic actuators, to incite any desired one of them active.

3. The combination, with a plurality of master members; of feeding means individual to each master member; driving connections for each feeding means; a compensating shifter for rendering one driving connection effective to actuate its associated feeding means, and thereby the corresponding master member, and for concomitantly rendering another of said driving connections ineffective; pneumatic means for oper ating said shifter; and manual controlli'" means for modifying the supply of ail! said pneumatic means, to incite the sam' action.

4. The combination, with a plurality of master members; of feeding means individ-.

ual to each master member; driving connections for each feeding means; a compensating shifter for rendering one driving connection effective to actuate its associated feeding means, and thereby the corresponding master member, and for concomitantly rendering another of said driving connections ineffective; a plurality of pneumatic actuators associated with said shifter to operate the same; and selective, manual controlling means for inciting any desired pneumatic actuator to action.

5. The combination with a plurality of master members, of means individual to each master member for feeding the same, driving connections for each individual means, a compensating shifter for rendering one driving connection effective to actuate its associated master member, and concomitantly rendering another of said driving connections ineffective, a translocator for moving said shifter into one position, a translocator for moving said shifter into another position, an individual actuator for each of said translocators, and a manual controller individual to each actuator for inciting the same to action.

6. The combination with a plurality of master members, of means individual to each mastermember for feeding the same,

driving connections for each individual means, a compensating shifter for rendering one driving connection effective to actuate its associated master member, and concomitantly'rendering another of said driving connections ineffective, a translocator for moving said shifter into one position, a

translocator for moving said shifter into another position, an individual actuator for each of'said translocators, means for controlling the actuator accordant with the starting in action of one master member from the other master member, and a manual controller individual to each actuator for inciting the same to action.

7. The combination with a plurality of master members, of means individual to each master member for feeding the same, driving connections for each individual means, a compensating shifter for rendering one driving connection effective to actuate its associated master member, and concomitantlv rendering another of said driving connections ineffective, a translocator for moving said shifter into one position, a translocator for moving said shifter into another position, an individual actuator for each of said translocators, and a manual controller individual to each actuator for inciting the same to action by supplying air thereto.

8.'The combination with a plurality of master members, of means individual -.to each master member for feeding the same, driving connections for each individual means, a compensating shifter for rendering one driving connection effective to actuate its associated master member, and concomitantly rendering another of said driving connections ineffective, locking means for holding said shifter in osition, and a translocator for changing't e position of said shifter and disengaging said locking means by engagement therewith.

9. The combination with a plurality of master members, of means individual to each master member for feeding the same, driving connections for each individual means, a compensating shifter for rendering one driving connection effective to actuate its associated master member, and concomitantly rendering another of said driving connections ineffective, locking means for holding said shifter in ndsition, a trans locator for changing the position of said shifter and disengaging said locking means by engagement therewith, a pneumatic actuator for operating said translocator, and a manual controller for starting the operation of said actuator by admitting air thereto.

10. The combination with a plurality of trackers, of a master member for each tracker, a carrying roller for each master member, driving connections for each carrying roller, a shifter acting to move the driving connections of one carrying roller into engagement while disconnecting the driving connections of the -other carrying roller, a pneumatic actuator for manipulating said shifter to cause the engagement of the driving connection for one carrying roller, a pneumatic actuator for moving the driving connections of the other carrying roller by Y a manipulation of said shifter, each of said actuators including a motor and a pneumatic control, a manual controller for each ofsaid pneumatic controls, and connections between each of said manual controllers and the accordant pneumatic control, whereby a manipulation of one of said manual controllers will cause a modification in the supply of air to one of said pneumatic controls, whereby the associated motor will be actuated to manipulate said shifter.

11. The combination with a plurality of trackers, of a master member for each tracker, a carrying roller for each master member, driving connections for each carrying roller, a shifter acting to move the driving connections of one carrying roller into engagement while disconnecting the driving connection of the other carrying roller, a pneumatic actuator for manipulating said shifter to" cause the engagement of the driving connection for one carrying roller, a pneumatic actuator for moving the driving connections of the other carrying roller by a manipulation of said shifter, connections between said trackers and said pneumatic controls arranged so that the activity of one master sheet may be controlled from the other master sheet, each of said actuators including a lnotor and a pneumatic control, a manual controller for each of said pneumatic controls, and connections between each of said manual controllers and the accordant pneumatic control, whereby a manipulation of one of said manual controllers will cause a modification in the supply of air to one of said pneumatic controls, whereby the associated motor will be actuated to manipulate said shifter.

12. The combination with a plurality of master members, of driving connections for selectively feeding said master members, a pneumatic actuator for each of said master members, comprising a motor and a pneu matic control, and a manual controller for each of said pneumatic controls comprising a pipe adapted to conduct air to the pneumatic control, and a normally closed valve openable to admit air to said pipe and thus to said pneumatic control.

13. The combination with a master member, of a carrying roller for said master member, driving connections for said carrying roller. a shifter for manipulating said driving connections. apneumatic actuator for said shifter comprising a motor and a pneumatic control, a manual controller for said pneumatic control, and a pipe connecting said manual controller to said pneumatic control, said manual controller including a normally closed valve capable of being opened to admit air to said pneumatic control.

14. The combination with a plurality of master members, of driving means for each of said master members, a pneumatic actuator for controlling the connection of each of said driving means, and valve means for modifying the supply of air to said actuators, thereby controlling the action thereof.

15. The combination with a plurality of master members, of driving means for feeding said master members, an actuator, for enabling the connection of each driving means, individual to each master member, and a manually operable valve controller for each of said actuators enabling the incitation of each of said actuators to action.

16. The combination with a master member, of a carrying roller for said master member, driving connections for said carrying roller, a shifter for enabling the operation of said carrying roller by said driving connections, a translocator for said shifter, ,a motor for operating said translocato'r, a \pneumatic control for governing the action device connected to of said motor, said pneumatic control comprising primary and secondary pneumatics, a conduit connected to said primary pneumatic, and a manually operable valve for controlling the supply of air through said conduit to said primary pneumatic.

17. The combination with a plurality of master members, of carrying rollers for each of said master members, driving connections for said carrying rollers, a shifter for said driving connections, a pair of translocators for manipulating said shifter in opposite directions, a pnuematic actuator for each of said translocators, a pipe connected to each of said actuators, and a valve for each of said pipes for admitting air to said pipes to control the feeding of said master members by said driving connections.

18. A pneumatic operator comprising a plurality of operating instrumentalities; a shifter connected with said operating instrumentalities to selectively control the activity thereof: a plurality of pneumatic actuators connected to variably operate said shifter; and a plurality of manual controllers for selectively governing said actuators by controlling the supply of air thereto.

19. A pneumatic operator comprising a plurality of operating instrumentalities; a shifter connected with said operating instrumentalities to selectively control the activity thereof a plurality of pneumatic actuators connected to variably operate said shifter; a plurality of manual controllers for selectively governing said actuators by controlling the supply of air thereto; and means for indicating the particular actuator selected.

20. A- pneumatic operator comprising a plurality of operating instrumentalities; a

shifter connected with said operating instrumentalities to selectively control the activity thereof; a plurality of pneumatic actuators connected to variably operate said shifter; a plurality of manual controllers for 'selectively governing said actuators by controlling the supply of air thereto; and a be moved by said shifter, to indicate the particular actuator selected.

21. The combination with a typewriter, of a pneumatic operator for said typewriter having a master sheet with the continuous character thereof interrupted at predetermined intervals in accordance with certain operations of the parts of said typewriter desired according to a predetermined plan, and also having a manually operable pneumatic control for admitting air to certain parts of said operator to start the action of said master sheet.

22. The combination, with a master member, and feeding means therefor; of driving gearing for said feeding means; a shifter for governing the connection of said feeding receiving portion 1 a projection thereon; a

- a projection thereon; a

means to said gearing; a latch for locking said shifter in a certamposition; and a shifter-operating device release said latch, and to acting to initially subsequently actuate said shifter.

23. The combination, with a master member, and feeding means therefor; of driving gearing for said feeding means; a shifter for governing the connection of said feeding means to said gearing; a latch for locking said shifter in a certain position, said latch having a releasing part thereon; and a shifter-operating element acting to initially engage said part and thereby release said latch, and to subsequently actuate said shifter.

24. The combination, with a master member, and feeding means therefor; of driving gearing for said feeding means; a shifter for governing the connection of said feeding means to said gearing, said shifter having spring latch engageable with said projection. to lock said shifter in a certain position; and a shifter-operating device acting to initially force said latch out of engagement with said projection, and to subsequently actuate said shifter.

25. The combination, with a master member, and feeding means therefor; of driving gearing for said feeding for governing the connection of said feeding means to said gearing, said shifter having spring latch having a receiving portion arranged to engage said projection, to lock said shifter in one-.position, and a releasing portion in front of said and a shifter-operating element acting to initially engage said releasing portion, so as to force said receiving portion out of engagement with said projection, and to subsequently actuate said shifter.

26. The combination with a master sheet, of means for feeding said master sheet. driving gearing for said first-mentioned means. a shifter for governing the connection of said means to said driving gearing, mechanism for moving said shifter. a pin on said shifter, an adjustably mounted spring latch having a socket cooperating with said pin to lock said shifter in a certain position, and separate means cooperating with said mechanism to release the latch when said mechanism is operated.

27. The combination with a master member, of means for feeding said master member, driving gearing for said feeding means, a shifter for controlling the connection of said driving gearing, a spring latch for locking said shifter in a certain position, said spring latch having a cam flange thereon, and separate means for moving said shifter and disengaging said latch by engagement with said ca-in-fiange.

troller connected to said means; a shifter.

28. The combination with a lurality of master members, of means for eeding said master members, driving gearing for each of said means, a shifter for controlling the connection of said driving gearings, a pin adjacent each end of said shifter, a spring latch engaging one of said pins in one position of said shifter, a spring latch engaging the other of said pins in another osition of said shifter, and means for ad usting said shifter from one position to the other and also for disengaging said latches.

29. The combination with a master member, of means for feedin said master member, driving gearing f or said means, a shifter for controlling the connection and disconnection of said driving gearing, an adjustably mounted latch for locking said shifter in a certain position, and an adjustable translocator for disengaging said latch and moving said shifter.

30. The combination With a master member, of means for feeding said master member, driving gearing for said feeding means, a shifter for controlling the connection of said driving gearing, a pneumatic actuator for moving said shifter, a pipe connected to said pneumatic actuator, and a manual conpipe comprising a tube, a stop for closing the entrance to said tube, a spring for holding said stop in its closed position, and means within said tube for furnishing bearing points for said spring having cut-away portions admitting the passage of the air through said tube when said stop is drawn to its open position.

31. The combination With a plurality of master sheets, of a plurality of feeders, one individual to each of said master sheets, an actuator corresponding to 7 each of said feeders for controlling the activity thereof, and a plurality of manual controllers, one individual to each of said feeders and its associated master sheets for controlling separately the activity of the corresponding feeder and the consequent active control by the corresponding master sheet.

32. The combination, with a master member, and driving connections for feeding the same; of a pneumatic actuator for said driving conections to control the effectiveness thereof to feed said master member, said actuator comprising a motor and a pneumatic control; and a pneumatic controller for said actuator comprising a pipe arranged to conduct air to said pneumatic control, and a normally-closed valve manually operable to admit air to said pipe and thus to said pneumatic control.

33. The combination with a plurality of master sheets, of feeding means individual to each master sheet, shifting means for con trolling the activity of said feeding means, a plurality of locks for said shifting means,

is eria one corresponding to the activity of each of said feeding means, and a plurality of translocators for said shifting means acting to disconnect said locks before moving said shifting means.

34. The combination with a plurality of master members, of a control set individual to each of said master members, a shifter for controlling the activity of said control sets, and a plurality of translocators for manipulating said shifter, each of said translocators being formed in two parts adjustably connected together so as to enable a variation in the length thereof.

The combination, with a plurality of actuators; of a plurality of control sets, any one of which may be in dominance over said actuators; a plurality of stops connected each to one of said control sets to bring the same into play; and an ndicator connected to determine which control set is in action and occupying definite positions corresponding to the location of the stops, said. indicator movable automatically to one of its positions consequent upon the operation of each stop, so that its position at any time indicates the control set in action.

36. The combination with a plurality of actuators, of a plurality of control sets, any one of which may be in dominance over said actuators, a casing inclosing said control sets and said actaatii rs, a pier connected each to one ot for the purpose o'i hriug ir play said stops 1 lation and extcndi casing. and an ind: mine which of said cs'nitri extending: to point and occupyi V p l the location of the. stop which indicator at any in stop of the controlv 37. The con 1 actuators A in a control a p: and a tra tater said tori: by said shifter, and van engage to change the po tion ci' the 38 The cmnbii'uatioii with :l actuators. of a piural one of which may (lmiili': a yr lurality of pneumatic operable individually and by earn of said stops to oi said control set list MA R. iii Witness s:

K. FRANKroar C. RirLEY, 

